From Unwoven Societal Relationships to a Broad-Based Movement? Union Power in Societal Networks in Quebec (Canada)

Abstract

Power resources are embedded in societal ties. Using qualitative network analysis, our fieldwork in Quebec (Canada), based on 30 interviews and three focus groups, explored union-societal ties, their resource properties and the extent to which unions weave them into a network. We identified five different types of union-societal ties: instrumental, civil society organizations, identity-based, satellite and fishing line. These ties were mostly unwoven. Analysis of networking provides insights into how unions frame issues, identify grassroots leaders and leverage societal power resources in broad-based movements.